"We gave a lot at Newcastle and the players came into the dressing room feeling that they had really battled hard," Wenger said.

"So my first priority will be to decide who do I rest and who do I bring in and how will the players recover because Charlton have had one day more than us to recover."

As well as summoning reserves of energy, Wenger will be hoping his side can negotiate a five-man Charlton midfield with the same success as when they overcame Newcastle in the 1-0 win at St James' Park on Wednesday night.

"Charlton are playing well and like many teams they play with five across the midfield and one up front so it is always difficult," Wenger added.

"We play with two strikers but now in England there is a trend for everyone to play with five across the middle of the park. Of course, our midfielders have to battle hard but they can score goals as well."

One of the players seeking to thwart Arsenal's title challenge will be former Highbury trainee Jerome Thomas, 21, who is proving to be a success with Charlton following his £100,000 move from Arsenal nearly a year ago.

"I'm not surprised Jerome is doing well," Wenger added. "I always told him he had the quality and that if he didn't make it with us that he may make it somewhere else and that's most important. We are proud we give our young players a good education."

Wenger, meanwhile, has insisted that the Brazilian midfielder, Edu, could still have a future at Highbury although he seems certain to join the Spanish club Valencia, who are managed by former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri.

"We want him to stay but he has everything in his hands and I cannot decide for him," Wenger said. As for the prospect of new arrivals at Arsenal now the transfer window has opened, Wenger suggested there could be activity, adding: "We are never on the market in January but sometimes we have surprises."

The England centre-half, Sol Campbell, would appear to be on the brink of signing a new contract with the Gunners. Wenger said he expected Campbell to put pen to paper "soon, and that may be a signing in January".